Will $11B federal fund become BRT windfall?

The federal government has announced close to $12 billion dollars in infrastructure funding for projects across Ontario, setting the stage for a possible injection of long-awaited federal cash into London’s landmark bus rapid transit project.

Wednesday, federal infrastructure minister Amarjeet Sohi said Ontario is getting $11.8 billion for public works projects provincewide during the next 10 years. The biggest chunk – $8.3 billion, more than three quarters of those dollars – is destined for public transit.

“Part of that $11 billion is London taxpayers’ money. We want to see that invested here, in our community,” said Deputy Mayor Paul Hubert, who’s filling in for Mayor Matt Brown this week.

“We look forward to working with the federal government and their staff to help ensure the city of London public transit is improved for the benefit of all.”

London’s $500-million bus rapid transit (BRT) plan, called Shift, already has $300 million locked up in contributions from city hall and the Ontario government. It’s the biggest project in city history.

The provincial share of up to $170 million – as first reported by The Free Press – was announced in January. City hall has committed $130 million, mostly from development charges, which means London is counting on another $200 million from the federal government.

Last year, Ottawa gave London an initial $8 million for BRT. The money was slated for detailed route design and a study of the project’s finer points.

Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre) told The Free Press in an interview earlier this week that cities and towns will still submit applications for transit and other infrastructure projects after provincial allocations are decided, noting the federal government is still “a long way” from reviewing the business case for Shift.

“All of those applications, including Shift BRT, need to be looked at very carefully, very meticulously,” he said. “It has to be a very thorough review that takes place. This is about taxpayer dollars.”

The agreement between the federal government and Ontario is the largest Sohi needs to sign with provinces and territories before the Liberals can dole out the $33 billion in infrastructure dollars promised during the next 10 years.

The federal government just announced $11.8 billion for infrastructure projects across Ontario, including $8.3 billion for public transit. #LdnOnt is hoping for $200 million from the feds for the city's bus rapid transit plan. #onpoli#cdnpolipic.twitter.com/3ym1vOpPcS

Fragiskatos also vowed to ensure London gets “its fair share” for transit projects.

“Money is coming for transit, no matter what,” Fragiskatos said. “It’s not a matter of Shift or bust.”

London’s bus rapid transit plan, championed by this city council, has divided residents and is shaping up to be the central theme in the October municipal election. Two expected mayoral candidates, Paul Cheng and Paul Paolatto, have slammed the plan and vowed to scrap it altogether, if elected. Incumbent Mayor Matt Brown is a well-known Shift backer.

The BRT network is a system of high-frequency buses – at peak times they’ll come by every five or ten minutes – that would run on L- and 7-shaped corridors with downtown as the central hub. Its routes would run to the north (Masonville Place mall), east (Fanshawe College), south (near White Oaks Mall) and west (to Oxford Street and Wonderland Road).

More detailed route designs were unveiled two weeks ago, including a staff recommendation to build rapid transit lanes in the centre of most routes, rather than along the curb (for example, they would run down the middle of Richmond Street from downtown to Western University). BRT-only lanes make the system reliable by keeping rapid transit vehicles away from traffic snarls and congestion, officials say.

Rapid transit projects are in the works or set to start operating in other peer municipalities, such as Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge (a BRT/light rail combination) and Hamilton (light rail).

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